Hood catch



Dec. 22, 1925- s. DE ORLO HOOD CATCH Filed Dec. 8

vii/6 Ill/Ill v INVENTOR filepfien' 172 [7110 ATTORNEYS Patent ed Dec, 22, 192 5 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

STEPHEN DE ORLO, 0F LA NSIN G, MICHIGAN, ,ASSIGNOR T0 GENERAL MOTORS COR- PORATION, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A'QOBZPORATION OF DELAWARE.

HOOD OATCHJ Application filed December 8, 1924. Serial No. 754,601.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, STEPHEN DE ORLO, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Lansing, county of Ingham, and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and nseful Improvements in Hood Catches, of which the following is a ,full, clear, concise, and exact description, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which the invention relates to make and use the same, reference being made therein to the accompanying drawings, which form apart of this specification.

' My invention relates to hood door latches designed for use with automobiles to hold the doors of the hood which encloses the engine closed, with the lower free edge thereof spring pressed against a stationary stop or jamb carried by the frame of the vehicle; and the object or end in view in my invention is to provide an improved latch for the purpose stated wherein the free lower edge of the door will be drawn downward by a spring, and at the same time forced inward and against the stop by a second spring; the second mentioned spring (or rather an integral portion or extension thereof) servm also as a support for a sprin actuated 1101 down memb r havin a hoor for en a in P e g g g g ed with the fixed support 7 or its equivalent,

an abutment carried by the door to accomplish the holding down action, and the lower end of which is so shaped, as by roviding said end with a transversely extending cylindrical eye, that a pivotal connection between the latch as a'whole and a fixed support therefor carried by the frame of the vehicle may be established.

With the above and other objects of invention in view my invention consists in the improved hood door latch illustrated in the accompanying drawing, described in the following specification, and particularly claimed in the concluding claims; and in such variations and modifications thereof,

within the scope of the concluding claims, as will be obvious to those skilled in the art to which my invention relates.

In the drawing accompanying and forming a part of this s ecification and wherein the preferred embodiment of my invention is illustrated Figure l is a fragmentary end view, mostly in section, showing my improved hood door latch and illustratin the use thereof for holding a hood door 0 osed.

Figure 2 is a .view showing the parts shown in Figure 1 in side elevation.

Figure 3 is a view similar to Fi ure 1 but showing the arts in another position; the hood door being latched closed in Figure 1, and unlatched in Figure 3.

Figure 4 is a view showing a slightly modified form of a detail of my invention,

Referring now to the drawing, the reference numeral 5 designates a hinged hood door tobe held closed, 6 a fixed jamb or stop against which the lower edge of the door is to beheld, and 7 a suitable fixed support which may be one of the two.longitudinally extending side frame members of, the vehicle. The construction of the door and stop, and the character of the support as regards additional functions performed thereby are, however, quite immaterial, as my invention is in no way concerned with these members otherwise than to require their presence in order that the latch may function in the manner contemplated. The numeral '8 designates an intermediate connecting memberwhereby and throu h which my imroved' hood door latch is prvotally connectthe said member being shown as in the form of a stirrup having a threaded pin 9' depending through a hole in the bar 7, and held in place by a nut 10. My invention, however, regarded in its broader aspect, is independent of the particular form of intermediate member employed for effecting a pivotal connection between the principal operative elements thereof to benext described and the frame or equivalent fixed support serving the purpose of the bar 7; and various specific forms of connecting member other than the particular form illustrated, may be employed.

The reference numeral 11 designates a spring arm made from resilient material such as steel, and which is preferably of uniform width throughout its length so that 'it can be made from flat bar stock; and 12 is a block, usually made of rubber, fastened to the upper end of the spring arm and which block is pressed against the door by Y the action of the spring arm when the door is held closed, as shown in Figure 1, thereby yieldably pressing the lower edge of the door against the stop 6 at such times. When the door is unlatched as shown in Figure 3 the arm and block move away therefrom, so that the door can be lifted and opened, as will be appreciated.

The numeral 13 designates a stem the lower end of which is fixedly fastened to the lower part of the spring arm 11, and which stem extends upwardly alongside said arm. This stem supports a spring actuated'hold down member which is movable longitudinally of the stem, and which may take various specific forms; but which is shown as comprising a hollow barrel 14 slidable upon the stem and which is pressed downward by a spring 15 housed therein; and acting-between an abutment'16 and a head at the upper end of the stem. The hold down member is provided with a handle 17 at its upper end whereby it may be lifted against the action of the spring, and with a hook 18 arranged to engage a fixed abutment 19 carriedby the door to thereby hold the same closed. The spring arm 11 is continued beyond the point of connection between the same and the lower end of'the stem 13, and is so shaped at its lower extremity as-to facilitate the pivotal connection of said lower end to a fixed support such as is provided by the connecting member 8; said spring arm being shown as having a transversely extendin cylindrical barrel or eye 20 at its extremity, formed by curling the said lower end, through which and throu h holes in the member 8 a ivot pm 21 exten s. In Figures 1, 2 and 3 t e lower end of the spring arm is bifurcated, andreceives a central upwardly extending portion of the stirrup 8; whereas in Figure 4 the spring arm fits between two side arms 22 of an equivalent stirrup 23.

The lower end of the stem 13 is preferably fastened to the spring arm 11 by providing the latter with a U-shaped loop at 24 (by the use of suitable bending dies, prior to the assembling of the parts as will be appreciated) 'havin aligned upper and lower holes through w ich the lower end of the stem may pass; and b flattening the end of the stem, as indicate at 25, after the said lower end has been inserted into the holes aforesaid. This method of fastening the parts together provides a construction wherein excessive resistance to the pulling out of the stem from the holes in the spring arm is secured, and at the same time provides a construction wherein wobbling of the stem is prevented because of the spaced apart.

supports at the sides of the stem provided lower end extends.

Having thus described and explained my invention, I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. A hood door latch of the class described comprising a spring arm having a door engaging block at its upper end, and the lower end of which is pivotally connected with a fixed support; a stem fixedly secured to said arm ad acent the lower end thereof, and ex- .tending' upwardly from said lower end alongside said arm; and a spring actuated hold down member carried by said stem and movable longitudinally thereupon and having a hook adapted to engage a fixed abutment carried by a hood door.

2. A hood door latch of the classdescribed comprising a spring arm having a door engaging block at its upper end, and the lower end of which is provided with a transversely extending cylindrical eye for providing a pivotal connection between said lower end and a fixed support; a stem fixedly secured to said arm adjacent the lower end thereof, and extending upwardly from said lower end alongside said arm; and a spring actuated hold down member carried by said stem and movable longitudinally thereupon,

and having a hook adapted to engage a fixed abutment carried by a hood door.

3. A hood door latch of the class described com rising a spring arm of substantially uni orm width throughout its length and having a door engagin block at its up er end, and the lower en of which is cur ed to provide a transversely extending cylindrical eye for providing a pivotal connection between said lower end and a fixed support; a stem fixedly secured to said arm adjacent the lower end thereof, and extendin upwardly from said lower end alon si e said arm; and aspring actuated hold down member carried by said stem and movable longitudinally thereupon and having a hook adapted to engage a "xed abutment carried by a hood door.

4. A hood door latch of the class described comprising a spring arm'having a door enga ing block at its upper. end, and the lower en 0 which is bent to provide a U-shaped loop and is provided with means below said loop whereby said arm may be pivotally connected with afixed support; a stem extending alongside said arm and the lower end of which extends through holes in opposite sides of said loop, and is fixedly secured to said arm; and a spring actuated hold down member carried by said stem and movable longitudinally thereupon, and having a hook adapted to engage a fixed abutment carried by a hood door.

5. A hood door latch of the class described comprising a spring arm having a door engaging block at its upper end, and the lower by the walls of the holes through which its an rovided with a transversely a fixed support having a pivot pin extendcarried by said stem and movable lon itudiing through said eye; a stem extending nally thereupon, and having a hook a apted alongside said arm and the lower end of to engage a fixed abutment carried by a 10 which extends through holes in opposite hood door.

sides of said loop, and is flattened between In testimony whereof I aflix my signature. said arms to thereby fasten it to said arm;

and a spring actuated hold down member STEPHEN DE OR'LO. 

